Risk & Business Magazine F.A. Peabody Insurance Spring 2017 | Page 26

The Browns; Kristy, Jim, Brenda & Debbie
Madigan Estates:
BY: CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON,
CPCU, WPC, PRESIDENT, F. A.
PEABODY INSURANCE
A Business That Never Retires
I
n 1978, Brenda and Dana Brown
of Houlton, Maine, established
Madigan Health Care Facility
after buying the former Madigan
Hospital and building a new 50-
bed nursing home. Brenda continued to
operate the business after her husband’s
death. She is now joined by her children,
Jim and Debbie, and daughter-in-law,
Kristy, in running one of the few family-
owned long-term care facilities in the
state of Maine. The Brown family has
worked hard over the years adapting to
the changing needs of Maine’s aging
population and changes to the health
care industry.
Jim Brown, CFO of Madigan Health
Care Facility, has noticed the changes in
Medicare and Long-Term Care insurance
coverage with regards to the acuity level
of residents in the nursing facility. A
resident who might have qualified for
nursing home care 20 years ago would
not qualify today but would still need
assistance with daily medical needs.
To adapt to these changes, Madigan
Health Care Services has added differing
levels of care for patients. Twenty years
ago, when a resident was admitted
to the facility, discharge was the
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exception. Now, staying permanently
is the exception as the large majority
of patients are discharged after their
treatment is complete and they are well
enough to go back home.
To accommodate these changing
needs, the facility depends largely on
skilled rehabilitation services. Patients
often need some extra assistance
after surgery, a fall, or other health
crisis. Madigan provides this service
with over 10 therapists on staff who
all have the goal of rehabilitating the
patient for independent living. Home
health care services are also offered
for patients who are capable of living
at home but need daily assistance with
some health care needs. Jim says that
the employee relationships that are
formed with patients early on in their
health care needs are important. The
same employees will continue to provide
care throughout various stages of the
patient’s needs such as assisted living,
home health care, skilled nursing, or
long term care. The diversification
and full spectrum of care provided
by Madigan Health Services is unique
among long-term care facilities in Maine,
which helps patients transition through
life changes.
In 1991, Adult Day Care was added
to Madigan’s nursing home services
to provide caregivers of elderly
people a chance to take care of other
responsibilities and to provide an
opportunity for socialization for the
client. In 1995, Madigan House was
created to meet the needs of residents
with Alzheimer’s disease or other related
dementias and who need guidance in
their daily lives but not necessarily
the same level of care required by the
nursing home residents. Madigan
House is a home-like environment with
communal living areas, fun activities,
and family-style dining provided.
Also, in 1995, Madigan added Home
Health Care services to enable clients
with certain health needs to continue to
live at home while still receiving quality
care. Depending on the needs of the
client, nurses, therapists, home health
aides, social workers, and personal
care attendants are available to visit
clients in their homes and help them
reach the highest level of independence
possible. The Madigan Home Health
Care department has received multiple